Development and Performance Evaluation of Engine-Operated Bund Trimmer

Bunds are essential for soil erosion control and irrigation management in agriculture, but maintaining them through manual trimming is labor-intensive and time-consuming. Traditional manual trimming methods are slow and needs more human effort and time. While several bund maintenance tools exist, most are designed for large-scale operations and are not adaptable to smaller fields. This study addresses this gap by developing a power-operated bund trimmer that is efficient, cost-effective, and suitable for small and medium-scale farming operations. The trimmer is powered by a 1.5 hp petrol engine and is designed with a rotary disc, cutting blades, power shafts, a safety guard, and a handle. It is operated by two individuals, one to carry the engine and the other to manage the trimming operations. The machine was tested on dry and wet cultivable lands to evaluate its performance in terms of operational speed, time efficiency and area covered. The bund trimmer demonstrated an effective working capacity of 8.6 m/min in dry land and 15.7 m/min in wetland, significantly outperforming manual trimming methods, which yielded only 6 m/min and 10 m/min, respectively. Operating at 1600 rpm, the trimmer effectively cuts through both soil and weeds. The operational cost was Rs. 454 per day, providing a cost-effective solution for bund maintenance. The machine is most effective for bunds under 300 mm in height and offers a practical alternative to manual methods, reducing labor time and increasing operational efficiency, making it suitable for regular bund maintenance in small and medium-sized farms.